Killzone: Shadow Fall ushers in the PlayStation 4 era (pictures)

The PlayStation 4 will get a big first-person shooter as a launch title. It offers familiar gameplay, but the graphics look simply insane.

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Last chance

During the PlayStation 4 introduction yesterday in New York, Sony revealed Killzone: Shadow Fall -- a mesmerizing first-person shooter that will arrive this fall as a launch title for the highly anticipated game console.

Enjoy its splendor in the following screenshots courtesy of developer Guerrilla Games.

Confused about the scenes? In a blog post, Killzone: Shadow Fall game director Steven Ter Heide mentions a basic plot summary for Shadow Fall, which takes place in Vekta City during the year 2381:

"The game is set in a near future, thirty years after the events of Killzone 3. The world is a very different place; two rival factions known as the Helghast and the Vektans live side by side in a futuristic city, divided by a vast wall. Tensions are high, and the cold war they are embroiled in is about to go hot. In the midst of this all stands a Shadow Marshal, you. The most special of the special forces, tasked with maintaining the delicate balance."

In this image, we see what could be the beginning of the end for an unidentified Vektan solider who faces a menacing Helghast flier with laser-based target tracking.

The proceeding 4K resolution (3,840x2,160) screenshots of Killzone: Shadow Fall indicate that the title -- and more importantly, the PlayStation 4 -- are poised to deliver a breathtaking graphical experience for gamers.

Beyond the future

During a live preview of Shadow Fall at Sony's PlayStation 4 event, CNET gaming editor Jeff Bakalar thought the wide-angle metropolis montage looked "brilliant" but noted that the live action appears similar to previous Killzone titles. "The big takeaway here is that Shadow Fall's massive scope and size could only be achieved on next-gen hardware -- more specifically a PS4," Bakalar said.

Fire fight

Actual gameplay varies in Killzone: Shadow Fall, which Game Director Steven Ter Heide describes further: "From responding to bold attacks, to quiet infiltrations or all out combat, you will be required to adapt and think on your feet as you have to face a variety of escalating events that could destroy your home world."

Seriously scary

Is this death, or just the beginning of something greater? Many mysteries await gamers in Killzone: Shadow Fall. For more action, watch this direct-from-PS4 Shadow Fall game play video courtesy of Guerrilla Games: